Dow Jones Industrial Average closes the quarter 8% higher

Dow Jones Industrial Average index traded higher on Friday lifted by US consumer confidence index which surged to a 13-month record high in March. Blue chip index climbed 0.5% or 66.22 points and closed at 13,212.04, advancing 8.1% on quarterly basis. Three stocks of 20 posted minor losses. Pfizer Inc jumped 3.8% after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analyst predicted the drug producer may split itself up. Walt Disney posted the biggest gains for the Dow, surging 1.8%.